Al-Abbas Shrine
| Al-Abbas Shrine | |
|---|---|
حَرَم أَبا الْفَضْل الْعَبَّاس | |
The gold-gilded dome and minarets, in 2014 | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Shia Islam |
| Ecclesiastical or organisational status | |
| Status | Active |
| Location | |
| Location | Karbala, Karbala Governorate |
| Country | Iraq |
Location of the shrine in Iraq | |
Interactive map of Al-Abbas Shrine | |
| Coordinates | 32°37′1.88″N 44°2′10.38″E / 32.6171889°N 44.0362167°E |
| Architecture | |
| Type | Shi’i mosque |
| Style | Islamic architecture |
| Specifications | |
| Dome | One |
| Minaret | Two |
| Materials | Gold; silver |
The Al-Abbas Shrine (Arabic: حَرَم أَبا الْفَضْل الْعَبَّاس, romanized: Ḥaram ʿAba al-Faḍl al-ʿAbbās) is the mausoleum of Abbas ibn Ali and a Shi'ite mosque, situated near the Imam Husayn shrine, located in Karbala, in the Karbala Governorate of Iraq. Abbas was son of Ali ibn Abi Talib and the half-brother of both Imam Hasan and Imam Husayn. Abbas ibn Ali was Husayn's flag-bearer in the Battle of Karbala and chief of his caravans. One of the holiest sites in Shia Islam, the shrine is revered by Shia Muslims who visit it every year, especially in the month of Muharram.
Environmental effects over the years have caused the Euphrates river to change course. Nearly 1,400 years after the Battle of Karbala, the river flows across the grave of Abbas and encircles it. It is said that the Euphrates has come to ‘Abbās now.
Since 2012, the shrine has undergone a series of enhancements and additions, such as the re-gilding of the dome, and more recently covering the former courtyard with a roof to provide improved accommodation for the millions of pilgrims who visit the shrine annually, and who come from all over the world.